Lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine

• US 6,540,047 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yasui, Nobuhiro, Kasuya, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): FENSTERMACHER, DAVID MORGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/785,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.21, 184/6.22, 184/6.28, 184/6.5, 184/106, 184/104.2, 184/104.3, 123/196.R, 123/196.A, 123/196.AB, 746/06.R, 746/06.A
• US Class Current: 184/104.2
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/02 Arrangements of lubricant conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/03 Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means filters B01D
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/126 Dry-sumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1816 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/18 DOHC [Double overhead camshaft]
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles

Abstract

In a lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine, a front surface portion of a lower engine case is positioned vertically, while mounting-bases for an oil filter are formed onto the front surface portion, and an oil passage extending to an oil entrance of an oil filter from an oil pump is positioned in parallel with the matching surfaces of the engine case, as well as an additional oil passage positioned for connecting an oil exit of the oil filter and a main gallery.

Claims

1. A lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine comprising an engine case dividable at least into two pieces in vertical direction in a normal operating situation, said divided engine case having matching surfaces being obliquely upward to the rear, a lower part of said engine case having substantially horizontal bottom surface portion, an oil pan attached to said bottom surface portion of said lower part of said engine case, oil passages, which guide lubricating oil in said oil pan to a main gallery by an all pump, formed in said lower part of said engine case, and an oil filter disposed on said oil passages, said lubrication device comprising:

a front surface portion of said lower part of said engine case being positioned normal to matching surfaces of said lower part of said engine case and said oil pan,

an oil-filter-mounting-base positioned on said front surface portion of said lower part of said engine case,

an oil passage, which extends within said lower part of said engine case to an oil entrance of said oil filter from said oil pump, formed in parallel with said matching surfaces of said divided engine case, and

an additional oil passage positioned within said lower part of said engine case, which connects an oil exit of said oil filter and said main gallery.

2. A lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine according to claim 1, wherein said lubrication device further comprising:

an oil cooler disposed on said oil passages, and

an oil-cooler-mounting-base formed with said oil-filter-mounting-base onto said front surface portion of said lower part of said engine case side by side in said engine width direction,

wherein said oil passage is a first oil passage, and said additional oil passage comprises a second oil passage and a third oil passage,

said second oil passage being connected to an oil exit of said oil filter and an oil entrance of said oil cooler and being positioned normal to said front surface portion of said lower part of said engine case, and in parallel with said matching surfaces of said lower part of said engine case and said oil pan, and

said third oil passage being extended to said main gallery from an oil exit of said oil cooler and being formed in parallel with said matching surfaces of said divided engine case.

3. A lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine according to claim 2, wherein an oil entrance port and an oil exit port for said oil filter are disposed in said oil filter-mounting-base coaxially, and an oil entrance port and an oil exit port for said oil cooler are disposed in said oil-cooler-mounting-base coaxially,

said oil exit port for said oil filter and said oil entrance port for said oil cooler being connected to said second oil passage which is formed normal to said front surface portion of said lower part of said engine case and being are disposed in center portions of said mounting-bases,

said oil entrance port for said oil filter being connected to said first oil passage and being disposed on a circumference side of said oil exit port for said oil filter, and

said oil exit port for said oil cooler being connected to said third oil passage and being disposed on the circumference side of said oil entrance port for said oil filter.

4. A lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine according to claim 2, wherein said oil entrance port for said oil filter and said oil exit port for said oil cooler are connected to said first and third oil passages and are disposed separately in a vertical direction.

5. A lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine according to claim 4, wherein said second oil passage is composed of two sub-passages which connect said oil exit port for said oil filter and said oil entrance port for said oil cooler to a main passage, while said main passage is disposed behind said mounting-bases and below said first oil passage.

6. A lubrication device of four-stroke-cycle engine according to claim 1, wherein said oil-filter-mounting-base and said oil pump are disposed on the same side of said engine.